Reps. Liss, Kennedy, Womack, Ball, Booher, Lisa Brown, Terry Brown, Constan, Crawford, Dean, Donigan, Durhal, Geiss, Gonzales, Gregory, Haase, Hammel, Haugh, Huckleberry, Rick Jones, Robert Jones, Lahti, LeBlanc, Leland, Lemmons, Lori, Marleau, Miller, Neumann, Opsommer, Pearce, Polidori, Rogers, Roy Schmidt, Wayne Schmidt, Sheltrown, Slavens, Smith, Spade, Stanley, Switalski, Tyler and Valentine offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 38.

A resolution recognizing March 12, 2009, as World Kidney Day and the month of March as Kidney Awareness Month in the state of Michigan.

Whereas, Healthy kidneys are essential to regulate the body by water and other chemicals in your blood, remove fluids, waste, toxins and drugs introduced to the body, release hormones that regulate blood pressure, make red blood cells and promote strong bones; and

Whereas, More than 940,000 Michiganians, about one in eight adults, suffer from chronic kidney disease; and

Whereas, Of the 18,000 Michiganians afflicted with kidney failure and of the 12,000 Michiganians on dialysis, approximately 45 percent are African American; and

Whereas, The two main causes of chronic kidney disease are diabetes and high blood pressure, which are responsible for more than 70 percent of all cases; and

Whereas, Kidney disease caused by diabetes and high blood pressure can often be prevented or delayed; and

Whereas, One in three children born in 2000 will develop type 2 diabetes and become at risk for kidney disease unless young people start eating less and exercising more; and

Whereas, The mission of the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan is to prevent kidney disease and improve the quality of life for those living with it, and to promote early detection to aid in preventing the progression from kidney disease to kidney failure, which requires dialysis or a kidney transplant to maintain life; and

Whereas, The cost of treatment for kidney disease patients is disproportionately higher than any other chronic disease; and

Whereas, The National Kidney Foundation of Michigan has continually served the people of Michigan for the last 54 years, and with the help of dedicated volunteers and supporters across the state will continue to offer more programs and services to more people than any other affiliate in the country; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legisative body recognize March 12, 2009, is recognized as World Kidney Day and the month of March as Kidney Awareness Month in Michigan in the hope that all possible support will continue to be extended to chronic kidney disease patients in Michigan and throughout the country and world.